US President Donald Trump has said that Pakistan “knows Iran better than we do,” as he confirmed discussing Iran-Israel tensions during his meeting with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the White House.

Speaking to reporters following the high-level interaction, Trump emphasised Pakistan’s strategic importance in the region, particularly with regard to Tehran. “We spoke about the Iran-Israel issue. Pakistan understands Iran better than us — they’re a key player in regional peace,” he stated.

The rare one-on-one meeting, held in the Cabinet Room, was followed by a luncheon hosted by Trump in the Army Chief’s honour. A White House spokesperson confirmed that the luncheon was arranged to appreciate Pakistan’s role in regional stability and to acknowledge General Munir’s efforts in de-escalating tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours, Pakistan and India.

“It’s an honour to meet Field Marshal Asim Munir. I thanked him for not letting things spiral into war,” Trump said, referring to recent cross-border tensions that were defused diplomatically.

The two also discussed potential areas of economic cooperation, with Trump confirming that a trade agreement with Pakistan and India is currently under negotiation.

“We’re in early talks on trade — Pakistan’s concerns are being heard,” he said.

According to diplomatic sources, General Munir is also scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pat Hegseth in the coming days. These engagements are being viewed in Islamabad as a significant diplomatic success, especially as they signal a revival in US-Pakistan strategic dialogue after a period of relative quiet.

Asked about possible diplomatic outcomes of the meeting, Trump said, “General Asim has played a strong role in lowering Pak-India tensions. We appreciate his leadership.”

Earlier, In a brief interaction with reporters, President Trump praised the Pakistani Army Chief, describing him as “an influential figure who played a critical role in de-escalating tensions between Pakistan and India.” The former US president also reiterated his admiration for Pakistan, calling it “an important nuclear country” and lauding the “good people of Pakistan.”

“This man [Field Marshal Munir] has been extremely effective in preventing war from Pakistan’s side,” Mr Trump said.

The luncheon provided a rare opportunity for both sides to exchange perspectives on critical security matters, with particular focus on the Iran-Israel war.

According to senior Pakistani lawmaker Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, the White House was keen to hear Field Marshal Munir’s assessment of the Middle East crisis, especially its impact on regional stability.

“President Trump does not want Pakistan-India tensions to escalate further, and he will seek Field Marshal Munir’s insight into the Iran-Israel conflict as part of shaping US policy in the region,” Senator Mushahid said during an appearance on a private news channel.

He also noted that recent strategic developments — particularly Pakistan’s claimed “decisive victory” in a five-day military confrontation with India — have prompted Washington to re-evaluate its view of Islamabad’s regional role.